To stand out in a crowd, applicants need to develop presence on all fronts

With so many individuals searching for so few positions, applicants need to stand out to land the job.

Recent studies show that appealing to an employer involves working with a variety of tools, from social media to cover letters.

LinkedIn, a professional networking site, is the most frequented by recruiters, according to a study from Bullhorn, a developer of recruitment software applicant tracking system.

LinkedIn is used by recruiters more than Twitter and Facebook combined and is the exclusive networking site of 48 percent of recruiters, the study found.

LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are all used by Kristi Gage-Linderman, corporate office manager for Gage Personnel, West Reading.

But, she said, Facebook and Twitter are used to spread news about the company and job opportunities, rather than networking.

Gage-Linderman said she sees Facebook as a more private social network.

Where to look for opportunities varies from social media to traditional media.

Gage-Linderman said they also use advertisements in local newspapers and magazines and post to their website.

Megan Adukaitis, director of career development at Alvernia University, said the school has an online jobs board. Messages from employers coming to the university looking for employees are posted there.

Adukaitis said this and employment sites such as CarrerBuilder.com are often where students start, but she encourages them to be proactive.

She said she advises students to develop a LinkedIn profile and take advantage of groups and connections.

"I encourage students to Google themselves to see what comes up," Adukaitis said. "Does anything come up? If nothing comes up, (they're) not relevant to an employer."

LinkedIn is especially useful in mining professional job candidates and identifying possible clients, said Anne Howe, director of marketing at Gage Personnel.

It should be used as an online resume displaying skill sets, employers and other useful information, according to Kelly P. Mocey, director of staffing at Gage Professional, King of Prussia.

LinkedIn, Howe said, starts the connection that should lead to a face-to-face meeting.

Gage-Linderman said area organizations such as Greater Reading Young Professionals and Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry provide opportunities for meetings.

To stand out after identifying a position, the cover letter is key.

A study found that 91 percent of executives find cover letters valuable to evaluating job candidates, according to Robert Half International.

"Attach a cover letter whenever possible," said Jeanie Sharp, regional vice president at Robert Half.

Gage-Linderman and Sharp agree it's the employer's first impression of the applicant.

"Be your biggest cheerleader," Howe suggested.

She said that in a cover letter, the applicant should take the time to highlight those aspects of a resume that really speak to the position.

She added that an applicant can conclude with a request for an interview or further action.